Tooth-brush.



Patented Nov. 2|, |899.

r. A. M camms. TOOTH BRUSH. (Application led Apr. 13, 189.8.)

.(NO Model.)

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NITED STATES PATENT rrrcn.

FRANCIS A. MOGINNIS, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

TOOTH-BRUSH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 637,522, dated November' 21, 1899.

Application filed April 13 1898.

To @ZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANoIs A. MoGINNIs, a citizen of the United States, residing at Detroit, county of Wayne, State of Michigan, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Tooth-Brushes; and I declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use the saine, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to tooth-brushes, 'and has for its object an improved brush provided with a reservoir for a liquid dentifrice so arranged that the liquid is delivered as wanted from the reservoir directly into the brush.

In the drawings, Figure 1 shows a brush in perspective and shows a cap for protecting the brush. Fig. 2 is a section across the head of the brush. Fig. 3 is a view of the reservoir, partly in section. Fig. 4 shows in detail the spring-supported packing employed in the cap at the end of the handle.

A indicates lthe reservoir, which serves also as the handle of the brush.

B indicates the brush-head, which is shown as transparent or semitransparent and is provided with a longitudinal bore b, that extends nearly the entire length of the brush-head. Out from the longitudinal bore on the under side lead a number of openings,through which the liquid can escape from the bore into the brush.

The reservoir A is secured' to the brush-head in any suitable way, preferably by a screwterminal d, which engages with a hollow screw in the end of the rear extension c of the brushhead. Through the screw-terminal d is a passage-Way e, which registers with the bore h in the brush-head. At the inner end of lthe pa sage-way e is a valve-seat e.

The reservoir A is closed at the end opposite the screw d with a screw-cap D. A valvestem a extends from the cap D and terminates Serial No. 677,479. (No model.)

with a conical valve a', which is arranged to seat in the valve-seat e. Within the cap D is a spring-supported packing d2, that engages against the end of the reservoir and prevents the entrance of air thereinto from the air-hole d3. An air-hole d3 passes through the walls of the cap D and is arranged to ad mit air freely into they reservoir when the cap D has been loosened enough to Withdraw the packing from close contact with the end of the reser- Voir A.

With this brush I use a protecting-cap Gr, which is made in the form of a trough with one closed end g, with one open end, and with the side pieces of the trough turned in at thev top to form flanges h h, that engage over the outer edges of the back of the brush-head. The trough is made of such a depth that the bristles of the brush engage snugly against the bottom of the trough when the cap is slipped over the head of the brush, and the frictional contact between the bristles, the head of the brush, and the cap holds the cap in place. This cap not only keeps the brush clean, but prevents it from touching other articles that it would otherwise come in contact with.

In a tooth brush, the combination of a brush-head provided with a longitudinal passage-way and with outlet-openings therefrom into the brush, a reservoir having a passageway arranged to register with the passage-way in the brush-head, a valve closing said passage-way and actuated by a stem connected with the cap closing theend of the reservoir, and a spring-actuated packing-gland in said cap, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I sign this specifica tion in the presence of two witnesses.

FRANCIS A. MCGINNIS.

Witnesses:

CHARLES F. BURTON, MARION A. REEVE. 

